Attachment for moving-picture apparatus.



A. SZBLIGA, A ATTACHMENT FOR MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1913. 1,087,699.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914 3 SHEETS-8HEET 1.

WITNESSES 6'4 M Myra/ @Z ATTnRIvFy A. SZBLIGrA ATTACHMENT FOR MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2, 1913.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/4 ATTOR Y WITNESSESM. %w M A. SZBLIGA.

ATTACHMENT FOR MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1913.

1,087,699, Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

umf

A ATTORNE; j

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- ANTON SZELIGA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-FIFTH T0 PAUL MT I ILLEB, ONE-FIFTH T0 ELIAS MAUTHBERGEB, AND ONE-TENTH TO FREDERICK TICHY, ALL

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.17, 1914.

Application filed April 2, 1913. Serial No. 758,353.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON SZELIGA, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Moving-Picture Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an attachment for moving picture exhibiting or projecting apparatus.

The films used in picture exhibiting machines are more or less inflammable. Almost every fire, which broke out in recent years in moving picture theaters or other places where such exhibitions take place, originated in the picture exhibiting machine itself, the film being inflamed either by the source of light used in the machine or, through the carelessness of the operator, by external means. During the exhibition, obviously, the auditorium is in darkness, and the inflammation of a picture film, that it causes an interruption of the exhibition, is visible through the projection opening -in the front wall of the inclosure in which the machine is located, and is apt thus to cause a panic in the audience.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an electrically operated attachmentfor moving picture exh biting machines which, as soon as a film is inflamed, automatically severs the same, thereby preventing the spreading of the fire, suitable means being provided which simultaneously stops the motor actuating the film feeding mechanism, turns on the lights in the auditorium {and extinguishes the source of light in the machine, closing at the same time the openings in the front wall of the inclosure through which the pictures are projected on the screen and through which the operator views the said screen.

Another object of the invention is to combine with an attachment of this type means, whereby, Whenever the proper feeding of the film past the exposure opening in the machine is interrupted, the lights in the auditorium are turned on, the motor being at the same time stopped and a shutter placed in front of the condensing lens that cooperates with the source of light. With these and other objects in view,

besides which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts heremafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompany mg drawings, it bein understood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

One of the. many possible embodiments-ofthe invention 18 illustrated in the accompanying drawings,- in which Flgure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a picture exhibiting machine providecl with the attachment forming the subject matter of the present application for Letters Patent; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a shutter for closing the projection opening in the front wall of the inclosure; Fig. 3

is aside elevation thereof; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the film severing and switch actuating means; Fig. 5 is aplan view. thereof, its cover being removed to more clearly show the interior con- 66 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a detail of construction; and Fig. 8' is a diagram of the electric circuits.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a moving picture exhibiting apparatus, comprising a suitable film feeding mechanism 11, which. causes a movement in the well known-manner of thefilm 12 past the exposure opening in the mechanism, the film being unwound from a supply reel 13 and rewound upon a take-up reel'14. I A loop 15 is formed in the film in the well known manner a substantial distance below the supply reel; The feeding mechanism is actuated by the intermediary of a belt 16, or other connection, from an electric motor 179, held upon a bracket 18, which is attached 4 to one of the legs 19 that support the projecting machine. The source of light, in the form of an arc lamp 20, is inclosed by a lamp house 21, mounted in reargof the feed ing mechanism.

; The device described located within an .inclosure, in the front'wall 22 of which is provided'an opening 23 through which the struction; Fig. 6 is a section taken on line pictures are projected onto the screen, and

- above this opening is formed another open- 34 against insulating blocks 35, which are positions ing, denoted by the numeral 24, through which the operator views the screen. devices so far described may be of any suitable type and construction.

Below the magazine of the supply reel 13 is arranged a casing 25, through which extends a vertical passage 26, the film passing through the same as it is unwound from the supply reel by the film feeding mechanism. Upon the inner face of the bottom of this casing are held guides 27, in which is slidably arranged a knife 28, the cutting edge 28 of which is ofa width slightly larger than that of the film and is adapted to pass through slots 29 in the walls of the passage 26. To the knife is fixedly attached an upwardly extending standard 30, which carries a bridge 31, electrically insulated therefrom'by a suitable insulating material 32. In this bridge are slidably arranged contact pins 33, which are held by means of springs secured to the guides 27. In'these insulating blocks are arranged two sets of contact points, one set being denoted by the numeral 36, and the other one by the numeral 37. The bridge 31 is adapted to electrically eonnect the contact points 36 when the parts are in the positions shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, or the contact points 37 when in hereinafter to be described. From the-rear end of the knife rises an armature 38 which is adapted to eotiperate with an electro-magnet 39, the latter, when energized, holding the bridge 31 against the action of a spring 40 in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, that is to say in a position in which it electrically connects the contact points 36. As soon as the electro-magnet is deenergized, the spring 40 be comes operative, therebycausing the bridge to electrically connect the contact points 37, and at the same time the knife 28 to sever the film as the former passes through the slots 29 in the Walls of the passage 26. Upon the inner face of the bottom of the casing 25 is furthermore mounted an insulating block 41', having two sets of contact points 42 and 43. Above the block 41 is held under the tension of springs 44 an insulating block 45 upon which are mounted metallic strips 46 and 47. The strip 46 is adapted to-bridge over the contact points 42 and strip 47 the cont-act points 43. The block45is fastened to a bar 48, which is slidably arranged in the casing 25, its lower free end which passes through the casing being hook-shaped, as clearly shown at 49. This hook is engaged by one end of a fuse or inflammable. cord 50, the other end of which is attached to the lower end of a rod 51, the upper end of the latter being fixedly with a worm 53, journaled in a bracket 54 that is attached to the casing 25. A knob 55 upon the worm 53 facilitates the rotation of the latter. The fuse or inflammable cord 50 is held in close proximity to the loop 15 in the film, the worm'gear and worm serving to draw the fuse or inflammable cord taut, whereby the metallic s rips 46 and 47 electrically connect the contact points 42 and 43, respectively. The contact points 36, 37, 42 and 43 are inserted into electric circuits hereinafter to be specified. The openings 23 and 24 are adapted to be closed by shutters 56 and 57, respectively, I

armatures 59 and 60, respectively, the armature 59 cooperating with an electro-magnet 61, and the armature 60 with an electromagnet 62. Both of these electro-magnets are mounted upon the said wall and inserted into electric circuits hereinafter to be described. When the electro-magnets 61 and 62 are energized, they hold the shutters 56 and 57 in their upper positions, in which the openings 23 and 24 are uncovered. The shutter 56 carries furthermore a metallic strip 63, which is adapted, when the shutter is in its closed position, to bridge over contact points 64 in an electric circuit, also hereinafter to be described.

In front of the condensing lens in the lamp-house 21 is arranged a shutter 65, carrying an armature 66 of an clectro-magnet 67, which, when energized, holds the shutter in its upper position, shown in Fig. 1 of the held a stationary contact point 68 and a slidable contact point 69, the latter being attached to a pin 70, which is slidably arranged on a stationary part of the feeding mechanism 11, a spring 71 serving to force the slidable contact point 69 against the stationary contact point 68. Normally, that is to say as long as there is a loop of the proper length in the film, the contact points 68 and 69 abut against each other. As soon as, hoW-' ever, for some reason the loop is shortened, resulting in an interruption in the exhibition, the contact point 69 is moved by the film away from the contact point 68, opening thereby an electric circuit which will'be hereinafter described.

The several devices described are inserted in a plurality of electric circuits. Main wires 72 and 73 furnish current to the motor 17 and the arc lamp 20, and main wires 74 and 75 to lamps 76 in the auditorium. The main wire 72 is connected with one of the contacts 43, the other contact 43 being connected by wire 77 with a binding post 78 upon a switch board 79, said binding post being connected by wire 80 with a contact 81, with which cooperates a contact 82, the latter being connected by wire 83 with a binding post 84, from which leads a wire 85 to one terminal of a starting rheostat 86, the other terminal of which is connected by wire 87 with one .of the brushes of the motor 17, its other brush being connected with the main wire 73. The contacts 81 and 82 are adapted to be bridged over by a switch lever 88, pivoted at 89 to the switch board 79. This lever carries'an armature 90, cooperating with an electromagnet 91, which, when energized, holds the switch lever 88 in a position to bridge over the contacts 81 and 82. When the switch lever is in this position and the starting rheostat properly set, the motor 17 rotates and thereby actuates the feeding mechanism. The are lamp 20 is also connected with the main wires 72 and 73, more particularly one of its terminals is connected by wire 92 with one of the contact points 36, the other contact point 36 being connected by wire 93 with the main wire 73. The other terminal of the arc lamp is connected by wire 94 with a resistance 95, from the latter leading a wire 96 to the main wire 72. In the wire 96 is inserted a switch 98. Upon closing the switch, obviously the arc lamp is lighted if the bridge 31 connects the points 36. The electromagnet 39 is also connected with the main wires 72 and 73, more particularly one of its terminals, denoted by the numeral 99, is connected by wire 100, into which is inserted a resistance 101, with the main wire 72, its

' other terminal 102 being connected by wire 103 with one of the contact points 42, the other contact point 42 being connected by wire 104 with the main wire 73. The electro-magnets 61 and 62 are in the circuit of the magnet 39, more particularly a wire 105 leads from the terminal 102 through the electro-magnet 62 to the terminal 99, and a wire 106 leads from one of the terminals of the magnet 62 through the electro-magnet 61 to the other terminal of the magnet 62. The contact points 64 are in an electric circuit 107, into which is inserted an incandescent lamp 108, or other signaling device, and a suitable source of electric energy, such as a battery 109.

The electro-magnet. 67, which cotiperates .with the shutter 65, is inserted into an electric circuit 110, the wires of which lead to contact points 111, said contact points being. bridged over by the switch lever 88- when the latter is held by the magnet 91 so as to bridge over the contact points "81 and 82.

The lamps 76 in the auditorium are connected with terminal wires 112 and 113. The terminal wire 112 is connected with the main wire 75, while the terminal wire 113 is connected with one of the contact points 37, and from the other contact point 37 leads a wire 114 to the main wire 74. The wire 114 is, on the other hand, connected by wire 115 with a contact point 116 upon the switch" board 79, a contact point 117 upon said switch board being connected by wire 118 with the terminal wire 113. Normally, that is to say when the switch 88 is in the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the circuit is interrupted between the contact points 116 and 117. If, however, the magnet 91 is denergized, a spring 119 will shift the switch lever 88 to bridge over the contact points 116 and 117.

The contact points 68 and 69, which nor-- mally abut against each other, are inserted into an electrical circuit 120, the terminals of which are connected with the main wires 74 and 75. In this circuit is inserted the electromagnet 91 and a suitable resistance 121. r

The operation of this device is as follows: The block 45 is kept by the fuse or inflammable cord 50 in its lower position, in which it causes the metallic strips 46 and 47 to bridge over the contacts 42 and 43, respectively. The switch lever 88 is normally held by the spring 119 in the position in which it bridges over the contacts 116 and 117, the lights in the auditorium being thereby lighted, the current flowing from the main wire 74 through wire 115 to Contact point 116, through switch 88 to contact point 117 thence through wire 118 to the terminal wire 113, through the lamps to terminal wire 112, and thence to main wire 75. Obviously a suitable switch may be inserted into this circuit. \Vhen the block 45 is held in its lower position, current flows through the magnets 39, 62 and 61. In starting the exhibition, the bridge 31 is manually shifted to bring the armature 38 into contact with p the core of the magnet 39, to be kept in such position against the action of the spring 40. The shutters 56 and 57, when lifted, will be held in their raised positions by the magnets 61 and 62. The switch 98 is then closed, whereby the arc lamp 220 is lighted, the current flowing from the main wire 72 through wire 96, through resistance 95, lamp 20, wire 92, bridge 31 and wire 93 to wire 73. The film is then inserted into the apparatus and the switch 88 brought into the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, in which it will be held by the electro-mag net 91, the latter being energized inasmuch as the contacts 68 and 69 abut against each other. The shutter 65 is then lifted and, inasmuch as the magnet 67 is energized,'it is held in such position. In bringing the lever of the rheostat 86 into its proper position, the motor will be started and the feeding mechanism thus actuated.

If the film catches fire, it will immediately which upon being burned, permits. the

springs 44 to act, which will interrupt the circuits between the contact points as, and

the contact points 42. As soon as the current is interrupted between the contact points 42, the magnet 39 is denergized, whereby the spring 40 is renderedoperativc, causing thereby the knife to sever the film which will prevent that part of the same which is within the magazine of the supply reel 13 from burning. Inasmuch as the film usually burns upward, that art of it which is Within the magazine of the wind-up reel 14 remains intact. The spreading of the fire is thus effectively prevented. At the same time the motor is stopped, inasmuch as the current between the contact points 43 is interrupted. Simultaneously the bridge 31 interrupts the circuit between the contact points 36, which results in an extinguishing of the arc lamp 20, and inasmuch as, under the action of the spring 40, the bridge 31 makes an electric connection between the contacts 37', the lights in the auditorium are lighted. The electromagnets 61 and 62 are also deenergized, with the result that the shutters 56and 57 close the openings 23 and 24, respectively. The metallic strip 63 upon the shutter 56 bridges over the contact points Get, which will result in a closing of the circuit 107 and an actuating of the lamp 108, which is usually arranged near to the seat of the leader of the orchestra, who, upon receiving this signal, will immediately start the orchestra playing.

If the film is defective, for instance if a portion of its perforated edges is torn, obviously the upper one of the feeding sprockets, shown in Fig. 7,. will not advance the film as soon as the torn portion comes in operative relation thereto/ The lower sprocket, however, will continue to feed the same for some time toward the exposure opening in the projecting apparatus. The loop 15 is thereby decreased by a jerk in size, and the slidable contact point 69 is moved away by the .film from the contact point 08 with the result that the electric circuit 120 is interrupted, thereby de'elnergizing'the electro-magnet 91. .By this operation, the spring 119 will immediately cause the switch lever 88 to move into the position in which it bridges over the contact points 116 and 117 with the result that the lamps in the auditorium are lighted, the operation of the motor is interrupted, and, since the electric circuit is interrupted between the contacts 111, the electromagnet 67 is denergized,'whereby the shutter 65 is released, covering the condensing lens in the lamp-house 21. No light'passes thus to the screen.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a moving picture exhibiting apparatus, of an electric motor for actuating its feeding mechanism and an electric lamp serving as the source of light for projecting the pictures, a casing through which the film passes from the supply reel toward said feeding mechanism, a spring actuated knife slidably arranged in said casihg adapted to sever said film, an electromagnet for holding said knife in its operative position against the action ofsaid sprlng, electric circuits in connection with said motor, lamp and electro-magnet, respectively, spring actuated switches adapted to close said mo tor circuit and said magnet circuit, inflammable means in close proximity to said film for holding said switches in their operative positions against the action of their springs, and a switch carried by said knife for closing said projecting lamp circuit when said knife is held in its operative position, whereby upon burning of said inflammable means. said motor circuit and magnet circuit are opened and the spring of said 7 knife rendered operative, resulting in a severing of the film and in an opening of said pro ecting lamp circuit.

2. The combination with a moving picture exhibiting apparatus, of an electrlc motor for actuating its feeding mechanism and an electric lamp serving as the source of light for projecting the pictures, a casing through tuated knife slidably arran ed in said casing adapted to sever'said m, an electromagnet for holding said knife in its operative position against the action of said spring, electric circuits in connection with said motor, lamp and electro-magnet, respectively, spring actuated: switches adapted to close said motor circuit and said magnet circuit, inflammable means in close proxim- 1ty to said film for holding said switches in their operative positions against 'the action of their springs, a normally open electric circuit containing lamps, and a switch carried by said knife for closing said projecting lamp circuit when said knife is held in its operative position and adapted to close said net is denergized, whereby upon burning of said inflammable means said 'motor circuit and magnet circuit are opened and the spring of said knife rendered operative, resulting in'a severing of the film and in an opening of said projecting lamp circuit and in a closing of said normally open lamp circuit.

3. The combination with a moving picture exhibiting apparatus, of an electric motor for actuating its feeding-l mechanism, a casing through which the m passes from the supply reel toward said feeding mechanism,

' normally open lamp circuit when said maga spring actuated knife slidably arranged in said casing adapted to sever said film, an electro-magnet for holding said knife in its operative position against the action of said 95 which the film passes from the, supply reel toward said' feeding mechanism, a spring acspring, electric circuits in connection with said motor and said electro magnet, respectively, spring actuated switches adapted to close said motor circuit and said magnet circuit, inflammable means in closeproximity to said film for holding said switches in their operative positions against the action of their springs, whereby upon burning of said inflammable means said motor circuit and magnet circuit are opened and the spring of said knife rendered operative, resulting.

in a severing of the film.

4j'.'In an attachmentfor movihg picture projecting machines, the combination with a casing through which the film is adapted to pass,.of a spring actuated switch therein, inflammable means for'holding said switch in-its closed position against the action of its spring, a spring-actuated knife arranged in said casing adapted to sever the film, and an electro-magnet in connection with said switch for holding upon being energized said knife in its operative position against the action of its spring, whereby upon burning of said inflammable means said electro-mag- I net is deenergized and the spring of said knife rendered operative, resulting in a severing of the film. v

5. The combination with a moving picture exhibiting apparatus, of an electric motor for actuating lts feeding mechanism, the film moved by'said feeding mechanism having a loop, an electric circuit connected with said -motor having spring actuated switch, and

exhibiting apparatus, of an electric motor for actuating its feeding mechanism, the film moved by said feeding mechanism having a loop, an electric circuit connected with saidmctor having a spring actuated switch, a normally closed electric circuit having a stationary contact point and a movable contact point within said loop and including an electro-magnet for holding said spring actuated switch in its closed position, and a normally open lamp circuit adapted to be closed by said switch, said movable contact point being shifted as said loop is decreased in size whereby said electro-magnet is denergized and said motor circuit is opened and said lamp circuit is closed.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of March, A. D1913.

ANTON SZELIGA. Witnesses:

SIGMUND Hnnzos,

- S. BIRNBAUM. 

